The ensemble Estudiantina of Melbourne returns with their highly anticipated second album, Ta Nisia (The Islands). Date Brunswick Ballroom Sunday 15th March 1pm
Beyond simply evoking images of sun-drenched Aegean landscapes, the title signals a significant evolution in the group’s musical journey—one that honours their roots while charting new artistic horizons.
Ta Nisia serves as both literal and metaphorical terrain. On one level, “the islands” conjure the idyllic Greek isles—blue seas, white houses, salty air—reflecting the band’s deep connection to Greek-derived musical traditions. On another level, the album represents an archipelago of ideas: each track is an island unto itself, yet together they map a broader voyage of growth, exploration and connection. From their debut, Journey to Rebetika, Estudiantina of Melbourne embraced the rich heritage of Smyrneika and rebetiko. With Ta Nisia, the ensemble broadens that foundation. Instrumentation remains rooted—bouzouki, oud, qanun, accordion, violin—but there’s an added dimension: subtle stylistic shifts and a willingness to drift into less chartered musical waters. This album marks the next chapter: a maturing sound, deeper storytelling, and a confident embrace of what lies beyond tradition. Ta Nisia offers something richly immersive. The idiom of islands becomes a vessel: for memory, migration, identity and renewal.
Event partners Brunswick Ballroom, ANT Pacific, Greek Herald , Hellenic Museum and Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne